depended the chief outcome,—­a decisive moment, in short.  That moment was when the enemy attempted, with good prospect, to effect the junction which Nelson foiled.  As Collingwood afterwards summed up the matter:  “The highest rewards are due to you and Culloden; you formed the plan of attack,—­we were only accessories to the Dons’ ruin; for had they got on the other tack, they would have been sooner joined, and the business would have been less complete.”

When Collingwood came up with the “Excellent,” the “Captain” was practically disabled for further movement, had lost heavily in men, and was without immediate support.  The “Culloden” had dropped astern, crippled, as had two of the Spanish vessels; the “Blenheim,” after passing the “Culloden” and the “Captain,” between them and the enemy, had drawn ahead.  The “Excellent,” steering between the two Spanish ships that had fallen behind, fired into both of them, and Nelson thought both then struck; but Collingwood did not stop to secure them.  “Captain Collingwood,” says Nelson, in his account, “disdaining the parade of taking possession of beaten enemies, most gallantly pushed up, with every sail set, to save his old friend and messmate, who was to appearance in a critical state.  The Excellent ranged up within ten feet of the San Nicolas, giving a most tremendous fire.  The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on board her, and the Excellent passing on for the Santissima Trinidad, the Captain resumed[46] her situation abreast of them, and close alongside.  At this time the Captain having lost her fore-topmast, not a sail, shroud,[47] or rope left, her wheel shot away, and incapable of further service in the line, or in chase, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard, and calling for the boarders, ordered them to board."[48]

The “Captain” fetched alongside of the “San Nicolas,” her bow touching the lee (starboard) quarter of the Spanish vessel, her spritsail yard hooking in the other’s mizzen shrouds.  Commander Berry, a very young man, who had lately been first lieutenant of the “Captain,” leaped actively into the mizzen chains, the first on board the enemy; he was quickly supported by others, who passed over by the spritsail yard.  The captain of the ship was in the act of following, at the head of his men, when Nelson stopped him.  “No, Miller,” he said, “I must have that honour;” and he directed him to remain.  One of the soldiers of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, who were serving on board as marines, broke open the upper quarter-gallery window of the “San Nicolas,” and through this Nelson entered, with a crowd of followers, to find himself in the cabin of the enemy’s ship.  The doors being fastened, they were held there a few moments, while Spanish officers from the quarter-deck discharged their pistols at them; but the doors were soon broken down, and the party, after firing a volley, sallied on the spar deck, which the enemy yielded to them,—­a Spanish commodore